Busting Brackets
Fansided

ACC Basketball: Breaking down the 2017-18 star on each team in the conference

By Lukas Harkins

DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 04: Grayson Allen (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NC - FEBRUARY 04: Grayson Allen (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 07: Shelton Mitchell (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 07: Shelton Mitchell (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Clemson Tigers – JR Shelton Mitchell

Without Jaron Blossomgame on the team this year, Clemson will have to search for a new star. Even though Mitchell has only spent one year with the program (he transferred from Vanderbilt after his freshman season), he will be the go-to-guy as a junior. Mitchell was the second leading scorer on the team last season at 10.8 points per game and he did so on very solid efficiency.

A 45.9% shooting from the field, it was Mitchell’s 45.3% shooting from 3-point land that jumped off the page. Although he only attempted 2.2 threes per game, this is an impressive clip that will hopefully carry over to this next season. The primary scoring option for Clemson in 2017-18, Mitchell will need to rely more heavily on his 3-point shot in addition to attacking the paint. Mitchell also averaged a modest 3.6 assists per game (versus 2.0 turnovers) last season, which just goes to show his ability to find open teammates.

Clemson as a program is in a bit of no-man’s-land right now. Even though they have finished each of the past four seasons with winning records, they have fallen short of reaching the NCAA Tournament each time. In fact, they have not gone dancing since 2010-11. Without Blossomgame as the star, Clemson will likely take a small step back this season, but they could still hover around the .500 area.